Opened one hour before drinking. Clear, dark ruby color with a slightly lighter rim. Fresh plowed sod, raspberry, and plum aromas with whiffs of the air in a Pennsylvania mushroom house on a cold winter morning. Silky entry, solid medium body and a 600 grit texture. Powerful California fleshy fruit, predominantly lush raspberry and pomegranate flavors…the heavy fruit flavors seemed sweet even though the wine was dry. Gentle round edged tannins, but with just enough grip to know they were participating, quite bold…no shrinking violet Pinot Noir in this bottle and a finish that was on the dry side and ended with a tiny glimmer of spice. PRETTY GOOD grocery store California Pinot Noir that really reminded me of picking in the berry patch at the farm while eating half of the crop before we finished…in a word excessive. It’s a fruity, ostentatious Pinot Noir that’s just on the edge of being over the top, but with that said we both agreed at this price point it’s a good buy for such an easy drinking California Pinot Noir.

Sanford La Rinconada vineyard that's located adjacent to the original Sanford & Benedict vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills.Photo from Sanford Winery.